Death of Amer Alwan, Iraqi director 1957 - 2023, audience award for «Zaman, the man of reeds» at the FICA in Vesoul. 

A message from our friends at FICA:

"We have just learned of the death, on July 4, of Iraqi francophone and francophile director Amer Alwan at the age of 66. 

We loved this man who always had a smile despite the hardships of life. 

He graduated from the Institute of Fine Arts in Baghdad, studied film in France. He holds a DEA in Philosophy of Art and Society at La Sorbonne. He has directed many films.

At the 9th Festival International des Cinémas d'Asie de Vesoul 2003, we selected his documentary «Les enfants de l'embargo», and in the fiction competition at the 10th FICA Vesoul 2004, his first feature film «Zaman, l'homme des roseaux». This film was presented to an enthusiastic audience in a crowded room. His brother Sattar Alwan, the film’s producer, had come to Vesoul to defend the film that won the audience’s prize. 

We presented the film to the distributor Pierre-Richard Muller d'Artedis, who liked it and distributed it.

Amer Alwan returned to Vesoul as a member of the international jury at the 16th FICA 2010, then as guest of honour in 2014, for the 20th anniversary of the FICA.

We extend our sincere condolences to his family."

Jean-Marc Thérouanne,